Engaging an entrepreneur coach might seem like a luxury, but in fact, it’s quite essential. Most companies fail to grow in revenue or professionalism because the entrepreneur or management doesn’t develop themselves or seek support. Ample research has been done on the return on investment (ROI); for example, the International Coach Federation has shown that the ROI on coaching is 700%. I’ve been an entrepreneur coach for ten years now, and during that time, I’ve assisted quite a few clients, both in the Netherlands and England. Whether they have many years of experience or are just starting out, are practically or academically trained, they all benefit from some external support. What they have in common is:
Dilemmas
You’re constantly facing dilemmas. Where do I invest my money? Where do I spend my time? What should I do with a poorly performing employee? There’s no single “right” choice as an entrepreneur. By hiring a coach, you can discuss the pros and cons of these decisions and also look at how best to evaluate such things. Often, you get stuck in these kinds of decisions, and it helps immensely to voice your doubts. For example, I often see people avoid making a decision out of fear of what might go wrong, but they often don’t consider the consequences of not making a decision. That’s often far worse! Making a decision in itself often brings a great sense of relief.
Becoming a better entrepreneur
You often don’t have someone to learn from. If you’re employed, you almost always have a manager or mentor. As an entrepreneur, you’re usually at the top of the food chain, but who makes you a better version of yourself? How do you get better at sales, managing your people, financial insight, strategic thinking, delegating, time management, marketing, or international business? The result is that your work is either less enjoyable than you’d hoped, or your company isn’t achieving the results you’d like. Of course, you can also take a course, but one-on-one learning from a coach or advisor is often the fastest way.
What you don’t see
You have blind spots. I often see unreadable websites, newsletters 43 pages long (no exaggeration, a real-life example), speak with dissatisfied employees within a company, or observe businesses where customers are leaving because they aren’t optimally supported. We’re all blind to these things, it’s like the plumber’s bathroom… A real shame, unnecessary, and often easy to fix, leading to much better results from your business.
Sounding board
There’s no one to regularly brainstorm and vent with. Your friends and family aren’t really waiting to listen to all your issues and wishes as an entrepreneur for two hours. And certainly not to give objective advice. It’s often good for the quality of your romantic relationship to hire an entrepreneur coach too. How enjoyable is it for your spouse to listen to your stories about, for example, defaulting clients or how stressful/boring your work has become lately?
Hamster wheel
The daily grind takes over. Your long-term wishes are forgotten or get buried. Or you think they’re no longer achievable because you can’t break that big dream into smaller steps and actions. That’s because you narrow your focus to what needs to be done today or this week, instead of why you originally started the company or the potential it now holds. I often see clients stuck, that they could grow enormously with their business or enjoy their work more if they would automate something, outsource, or hire an (additional) employee or intern. But that takes time to get started, and as long as you don’t do it, the not-so-fun status quo remains. A good coach can pinpoint the problem flawlessly and help you see the steps to get out of it.
How do you choose an entrepreneurial coach?
An entrepreneur coach helps you with all these kinds of matters. What’s important is that you have someone who can listen, help you uncover your goals for yourself and your company, assist you in realizing them, and make you an even better entrepreneur. Someone who can quickly empathize with your business and you as a person, and has experience in this area. There are quite a few coaches working in the Netherlands who vary enormously in expertise, experience, style, and approach. So, consider what you need yourself. Do you primarily want a sounding board, or, for example, someone with expertise in a particular area? Do you want a coach who is mainly kind and empathetic, or one who dares to challenge you when you do things that don’t align with your goals?
Of course, it also has to fit the budget. Luckily, at Brilliant Work, we have both unsubsidized and subsidized programs, so we can always find something that fits. As the best SME coaching and consulting firm in the Netherlands for 2019 and 2020 (awarded by Corporate Vision magazine), one of our ten coaches will always be a good match for you. And if you like, you can even switch coaches within our team from time to time, so you get the best from everyone.
Want a free intake? Then please contact us at info@brilliantwork.nl or 06 21371669.
Lizanne Jakobs – Business Coach, Entrepreneurial Coach, and Founder of Brilliant Work
